Summary
Date Posted: Monday, January 27 2025, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Standard Job Description
Assistant Legal Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Legal Officer is a member of the protection or legal team in a Country or Sub-Office. He/she may report to the (Senior) Protection or (Senior) Legal Officer, Head of Sub-Office or to the Assistant Representative for Protection. In smaller Offices, the post may report directly to the Representative.

The Assistant Legal Officer assists the Office in providing quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (POC). S/he is also required to assist the office in ensuring that POC are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern and authorities as well as protection and assistance partners.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
– Assist in the preparation of legal advice and drafting of position papers and guidelines on pertinent legal and operational issues.
– Stay abreast of the domestic legal issues and pertinent laws regarding POC and advise the Office accordingly.
– Contribute to advocacy towards proper interpretation of law and doctrine as well as in the development of standards of protection.
– Consistently apply international and national law and UNHCR policies and standards.
– Assist the Office in providing legal counselling to persons of concern.
– Liaise and intervene with local authorities on the legal issues pertaining to POC.
– May act as interpreter during meetings with authorities, if required.
– Participate in meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts at the relevant level.
– Assist in the development of project proposals and project implementation.
– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA – 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Law; Human Rights Law; Refugee Law;
International Humanitarian Law;
or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Not Specified.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.
Desirable
Completion of UNHCR learning programmes on protection would be an asset or any other equivalent external courses.

Functional Skills
LE-Legal Research
LE-Draft legal settlement agreements
UN-UN System – Legal Status and Structure
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.74532

Desired Candidate Profile
The desired candidate should hold a degree in law. A demonstrated interest in, study, or practical experience in refugee law, human rights law, and/or international humanitarian law will be considered favourably. The successful candidate must have a proven track record of conducting legal analysis, research, and/or providing legal advice, including drafting legal analysis, position/policy papers, and guidelines on legal issues. Experience in the development of national legislation or policy in areas that promote human rights, such as access to justice, children’s and women’s rights will be a distinct advantage.

Additionally, the candidate should have experience in delivering training and capacity-building support to government and civil society stakeholders on legal topics relevant to UNHCR’s work. A strong and demonstrated knowledge of Zambia’s national legal framework, as well as Zambia’s commitments under the international legal system is required.

An excellent knowledge of Zambia’s legislative and institutional frameworks is essential. The incumbent will be required to establish a network and contacts with government officials in different ministries and with civil society organizations and their representatives. The position requires political awareness and strategic engagement when exercising UNHCR’s supervisory responsibility and promoting its protection positions in exchanges with Government ministries and agencies, including, but not limited to, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security and its office of the Commissioner for Refugees.

The candidate should also be experienced in liaising, intervening, or advocating with government or judicial authorities on legal issues.
Experience working with vulnerable people, trauma survivors, marginalized and disadvantaged communities or groups will be highly regarded. An added advantage would be experience in offering legal counsel and assistance to underserved communities, as well as the development or implementation of legal assistance proposals and projects.
The role requires strong organizational and planning abilities, as well as the capacity to communicate complex legal matters effectively and in jargon free language to different audiences, both orally and in writing. Excellent English language writing ability and communication skills are required, with the ability to draft clearly and effectively.

Operational Context
UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to support States to ensure that everyone forced to flee can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

In Zambia, UNHCR supports the Government of Zambia to provide an enabling protection environment that allows asylum-seekers, refugees and former refugees to be protected, be self-reliant and achieve durable solutions.
Zambia has adopted a comprehensive refugee response approach, as outlined in the New York Declaration (2016) and the Global Compact on Refugees (2018), which guide the country’s refugee and asylum response. This framework promotes an all-of-society approach, emphasizing strong investment and international support to address both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term socio-economic development solutions for forcibly displaced and local host communities. In fulfilling its mandate, UNHCR proactively pursues and advocates for sustainable responses that not only meet urgent needs but also foster long-term benefits, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This approach integrates economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection to ensure present needs are met without compromising the well-being of future generations.

Zambia is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, reaffirming its commitment to international refugee protection standards. The country’s asylum and refugee response are governed by the Refugees Act of 2017, which provides the legal framework for refugee status determination, rights, and obligations of refugees, as well as their access to protection and assistance in Zambia. In addition, Zambia’s National Refugee Policy and its Implementation Plan provide a structured approach to refugee management, promoting self-reliance, inclusion in national systems, and durable solutions in line with international and regional commitments.

In 2025, Zambia will receive a World Bank grant under the IDA 20 Window for Host and Refugee Communities to implementing the Refugee and Host Communities Project to enhance socio-economic opportunities for refugees and host communities. A key focus of the project is harmonizing laws in Zambia to facilitate implementation of the Refugee Policy and to facilitate refugee documentation, access to basic services, and self-reliance. As part of this effort, the project supports the rollout of new national ID cards for refugees across all three refugee-hosting districts, promoting legal recognition and inclusion within national systems.

As of end of December 2024, Zambia hosts some 106,770 forcibly displaced persons (79,284 refugees; 9,649 asylum seekers and 17,837 former refugees and others of concerns) in three refugee settlements and other urban areas including Lusaka. The vast majority live in the three refugee settlements, namely Mayukwayukwa (26,804), Meheba (43,498), Mantapala (9,152), and some (27,316) have settled in urban locations. The Government of the republic of Zambia (GRZ) coordinates asylum and refugee management through the office of the Commissioner for Refugees (COR) in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security and in close collaboration with other government departments and the inter- governmental steering committee established for this purpose, with the direct support of UNHCR.

UNHCR in Zambia has three field offices/units (one in Solwezi one in Kawambwa and a newly established office in Kaoma) and one Representational Office in Lusaka.

Nature of the Position
The Assistant Legal Officer is a senior national staff member within UNHCR Zambia’s protection team, contributing to the development and strengthening of Zambia’s national asylum and refugee protection system. This role is instrumental in supporting the implementation of UNHCR’s vision for a government-led, solutions-oriented approach to asylum management and refugee protection.

Reporting to the Senior Protection Officer, the Assistant Legal Officer will lead UNHCR’s work to advance critical workstreams, particularly law and policy reform, while fostering strong networks and partnerships. The position supports UNHCR to position itself as an international authority on international refugee law and a trusted partner supporting Zambia’s implementation of the 2024 National Refugee Policy by its active involvement and expert advice to harmonize and reform the national legal framework.

A core part of the role involves providing high-quality legal analysis to support protection responses for asylum-seekers, refugees, former refugees, and stateless persons. The Assistant Legal Officer will prepare legal advice, draft position papers, and develop guidelines on critical legal and operational issues. Staying abreast of domestic legal developments and relevant laws, the incumbent will ensure the Office receives accurate and timely information on asylum and refugee protection developments/matters.

The Assistant Legal Officer will also contribute to advocacy efforts, promoting the interpretation of laws and doctrines in line with international and regional standards. The Officer will engage with national and local authorities to address legal issues affecting persons of concern, provide legal counselling to refugees and asylum-seekers as needed, and contribute to the development of protection standards where applicable.

The Assistant Legal Officer plays a key role in supporting the Government strengthen Zambia’s Refugee Status Determination (RSD) processes and improving asylum management systems to enhance efficiency. As UNHCR’s representative to and ex-officio member of the government RSD committee, the Officer will provide expert legal advice and guidance on international policies and standards, actively participating in committee meetings and other relevant engagements.

Functional Clearance
This position doesn’t require a functional clearance
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level)
Desired languages
Additional Qualifications

Skills
LE-Draft legal settlement agreements, LE-Legal Research, UN-UN System – Legal Status and Structure

Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA): Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Humanitarian Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Refugee Law
Certifications

UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Job Experience: No Requirements

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months:

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure

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